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CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 The Council of Ministers today expressed profound grief on the sad demise of former Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Singh Brar and renowned American agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug – the father of the ‘Green Revolution’ for his outstanding contribution towards Punjab for making it self-reliant in food production. In two separate condolence resolutions adopted unanimously at a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal recalled their remarkable services for the development and progress of the state here at Punjab Bhawan this morning. Giving the details of the meeting, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Mr. Harcharan Bains said that these resolutions were moved by the Deputy Chief Minster Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. Paying glowing tributes to the former Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Singh Brar, the resolution described him as a true statesman and a matured politician. In the death of Mr. Brar the state has lost a balanced and an experienced leader, who stood for politics of consensus and held the Opposition in high esteem, always opting for the path of conciliation rather than confrontation, said the resolution. In another resolution, the Council of Ministers described Norman Borlaug as a great visionary and a friend of farmers who helped the nations to grow food across the globe. The Punjab and its farming community would ever indebted to Mr. Borlaug in recognition of his immense contribution to high-yielding crop varieties and ushering agricultural innovations in the Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana. The PAU was the first to confer the degree of doctor of science (honoris causa) on him as a rare honour. On the occasion, a two-minute silence was observed to pay tributes
to the departed souls. The Council of Ministers also gave in principle approval for amending the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 for enhancement of the period of suppression of Market Committees, thereby extending the time limit from May 18, 2007 to December 31, 2009 for the reconstitution of superseded committees and to validate the works executed by the administrators from the date of their appointment till the reconstitution of the committees. The Council of Ministers approved the renaming of the Punjab Ayurved
University, Hoshiarpur as Guru Ravi Dass Ayurved University in its
draft Bill of 2009 regarding its establishment. The University is
being set up for the purposes of teaching, affiliating and ensuring
proper and systematic instruction, training and research in Ayurved,
Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy and for the
matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
CM ASKS FCR TO RE-EXAMINE HIKE IN JUDICIAL STAMP FEE CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the Financial Commissioner Revenue to re-examine the issue of the hike in the judicial stamp fee charges following the recent amendments in the Punjab Court Fees Act and till the final decision the increased rates would not be implemented. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister at a meeting with a deputation of the representatives of Bar Council, Punjab & Haryana High Court and District Bar Associations from all over the state led by the Chairman Bar Council Mr. BK Goyal here this morning. According to the Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Mr. Harcharan
Bains, the Chief Minister constituted a committee comprising the
Financial Commissioner Revenue and five members of the Bar Council
to thoroughly examine the entire issue and bring a concrete proposal
before the government for moderating the increase to a reasonable
level. Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Advocate General Punjab Mr.HS Mattewal, former Member Parliament Mr.SS Dhindsa, General Secretary SAD Mr.BS Bhunder, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr.Harcharan Bains and Financial Commissioner Revenue Mrs. Romilla Dubey, besides all presidents of District Bar Associations of Punjab. PUNJAB PR ALL SET TO HAVE STATE- OF- ART OFFICE Media Accreditation Policy Rules approved Chandigarh, September 16, 2009 Punjab Public Relations Department is all set to have state-of-art fully equipped office as Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today gave his nod to the ambitious plan of strengthening the infrastructure of Information & Public Relations Department at Headquarter and also modernizing the offices located in the field as well as at New Delhi. In a meeting held here today to review the working of department, Mr. Badal who is also holding the charge of Information & Public Relations department, also instructed to put up draft Media policy with in two months for approval. In a meeting attended by Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Darbara Singh Guru and Director Public Relations Mr. Gagandeep Singh Brar, Mr. Badal said that Public Relations Department must be equipped to face the challenge posed by cyber age. Mr. Badal also asked Director to explore the possibility of setting up of an Institute for Training in Electronic Media and put up draft plan within three months after coordinating with various agencies. DPR informed the Deputy Chief Minister that Media Accreditation Policy Rules have been approved fulfilling the long pending demand of media persons and they have been sent for notification. Accompanied by Director Public Relations Mr. Gagandeep Singh Brar, Mr. Badal today also paid a visit to the office of the department, located at the 5th Floor to see the condition of the office and also visited the cabins of PROs. Mr. Brar showed the conceptual plan drawn for the modernization of official headquarter of the department that included independent computer equipped workstations for every PRO, lobby for the visiting media persons, computer lab, digitalized research & reference section, library, photo section, pantry besides state of the art digital photo editing room etc. He said that whole department would be consolidated in the hall. Mr. Badal said that we must provide congenial atmosphere to the PROs so that they could work independently and convey the policies of government to the masses in a proper way. Mr. Brar assured that the office would be renovated with six months. Later, the Deputy Chief Minister also visited Press Room located at 2nd Floor and listened to the problems being faced by the media men. He said that this press room should have independent workstations equipped with internet linked computers and fax for the media to discharge its duties in a proper way. PUNJAB FOREST DEPARTMENT TO SETUP CENTRALISED HIGH TECH NURSERIES FOR PROMOTION OF AGRO-FORESTRY -----TIKSHAN SUD Chandigarh September 16:, 2009 With a view to meeting the demand of thirty lakh cubic metre of wood annually of approximately five thousand wood based industries in the State, Mr. Tikshan Sud, Forest Minister, Punjab directed the officers of the department to work out every possibility to plant three crore plants required annually for this purpose in the State. This was stated here today by the Forest Minister Punjab while addressing a high level meeting with the Financial Commissioner (Forests), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab and other senior officers of the Forest Department to discuss the promotion of agro-forestry in Punjab. Adding further he said that the requisite government land for the a forestation programmes was not available in the State, plantation of high quality planting stock of clonal origin having greater yield per unit area, would be promoted on private land to cater to the demand of the industry. Against the requirement of three crore plants, approximately one crore forty lakh plants were being planted every year in the State through agro-forestry and other afforestation programmes, said Mr. Sud. In order to sustain the wood based industries in the State, there was a need for further expansion of agro-forestry in Punjab. The Minister also said that the Department would set up one or two centralized high-tech forest nurseries with their own hedge gardens for sourcing of high quality planting material along with mist chambers/green houses etc. for production of 15 to 30 lakh seedlings of clonal plants every year for supply to the farmers. These nurseries would be set up in partnership with private sector and the feasibility report of the same would be prepared by the Department in a period of 2 months. The Forest Minister also constituted a committee of the senior officers of the Department to explore the feasibility of undertaking agro-forestry plantations on the vacant farm lands of NRIs and absentee farmers through suitable incentives. For providing remunerative prices to the farmers for the wood produced from agro forestry, the Forest Department with the involvement of Punjab State Forest Development Corporation and State Industry Department would establish proper market linkages with industry in and around Punjab. During the meeting, Forest Minister Punjab also took stock of the ongoing research and training activities of the Punjab Forest Department and stressed for up gradation of infrastructure and training facilities of Forest Training Institute of the Department at Hoshiarpur. It was decided to commence a training programme for thirty Forest Guards from December 2009 covering silviculture, forest protection, management and development related activities. Forest Minister also urged the Research Wing of the Department to develop suitable agro forestry models for tree species other than Poplar and Eucalyptus in association with Punjab Agriculture University and to set up germ plasma banks of native species of Punjab which are diminishing gradually such as the fruit tree species of desi mango, jamun, aonla etc. It was also decided to carry out a detailed survey of suitable private nurseries of the State so as to integrate these nurseries in the mainstream a forestation activities of the Department. For encouraging urban forestry in the State,Mr. Sud directed the Department to raise planting stock of 10 ft. or more height so that higher survival percentage of plantations in urban areas can be ensured. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR 100 PERCENT COVERAGE OF WATER SUPPLY CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 Punjab Government has prepared a comprehensive plan for 100 percent coverage of water supply and sewerage system in urban areas. Disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local Government, Industry and Commerce Minister Punjab said that project worth Rs.1759.73 crore was under various stages of implementation. Mr. Kalia said that Local Government Department was committed in providing basic civil services to urban population by providing potable drinking water, sewerage network, sewage treatment plants, roads, street lights etc. He said that previous government led by the Congress Party did not pay adequate attention to sewage treatment plants, consequently rivers, drains and canals were getting polluted and this was adversely affecting the health of the people who depended upon canal based schemes for drinking water. Local Government Minister further said that SAD-BJP Government had undertaken water supply schemes on war footing with an outlay of Rs.113.66 crore in the Amritsar, Bathinda, Malout, Majitha, Adampur, Fatehgarh Churrian, Ferozepur, Kaputhala, Sunam, Muktsar, Jalandhar, Mansa, Budhlada, Mour, Baretta, Sardulgarh, Bhikhi, Raman Mandi, Bhucho Mandi, Rampura Phul, Kotfatta and Rajpura towns in the Ist phase of the state.
The Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab has undertaken drive against Tax Evaders as well as against Department officials who are in connivance with Tax Evaders causing huge financial losses to state exchequer. In this regard, A. Venu Parsad, Excise and Taxation Commission, Punjab has suspended three inspectors namely Sh.Kulwant Singh, Sh. Karamjit Singh and Smt. Harjit Kaur, while working as Inspector at ICC Laknour, allowed 14 vehicles loaded with Iron and Scrap, possessing bogus bills and GRs. Sh. Karamjit Singh, ETI posted at ICC Chullar Kalan was directed to detain a vehicle which was transporting under billed and under weighed goods, but he did not detain the goods. Smt. Harjit Kaur, while working as ETI at Fatehgarh sahib issued surety bond to a dealer for release of detained goods from her residence during a holiday. The Excise and Taxation Commissioner made it clear that neither VAT Evaders nor the Departmental staff who are in hand in glove with such VAT Evaders will be allowed to lay with the collection of VAT in the State. In the year 2008-09, the Department has imposed fine to the tune of about Rs. 40 crores on various Tax Evaders. Recently, two Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) Ist and 6th have been deployed with Excise and Taxation Department to deal with Tax Evaders. The Department has intensified its activities to curb tax evasion on the road through railways. Accordingly, various inspections have been made by the teams of officials of the Department which yielded good results. With these efforts, it is expected that the revenue collection will definitely be increased.
Mr. Tikshan Sud Parliamentary Affairs Minister Punjab while addressing a meeting of the State Advisory Council of the departments of Parliamentary Affairs said that the department of education would be involved in galvanizing the youth providing them every possible opportunity to participate in the state level youth parliament competitions. The tours would be conducted for the young students to visit the Parliament and State Assembly especially during the sessions, said the Minister. Various Consultative Committees which had already been constituted for all the departments would meet regularly for purposes of consultations between the government and the members of state legislative assembly on policies and programmes of the government to be implemented across the state. To enable the young legislators to discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively, the Minister said that the government would also organize seminars and workshops for the Members so that they have a first hand knowledge of the working of the institutions and projects of importance and to interact with the experts on different technical matters. In another meeting of the State Sub mountain Kandi area Committee, the issues relating to grant of compensation to the farmers for the damage caused by the wild animals to their crops, live stock and individuals, simplifications of procedure for felling of trees from the areas notified under PLPA and promotion of wood based industries in the state were discussed. Members participating in the meeting were unanimous on the issue of grant of immediate compensation to the farmers for the damaged caused by wild animals to their crops etc. The Minster informed the members that the matter was discussed in the State Board for Wildlife under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister Punjab, in which it was decided that the state would compensate farmers @ Rs. 4000/- per acre for crop damage. In addition permission for hunting of female wild boars, even at night time and allow the farmers to retain the carcass for their consumption was also granted. The committee recommended to the State Board for Wildlife to permit farmers who do not have licensed weapons to avail the services of other farmers who possess licensed weapons and also allow compensation without any bottleneck/hitch. Sh. R.C. Nayyar, IAS, FCF informed the committee that the State government had obtained approval under section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 from Government of India for delisting of 55339 ha of area closed under PLPA, 1900 from the list of forests, which is a great relief to the farmers of Kandi area. He pointed out that which this approval; the farmers would be able to undertake activities relating to agriculture for their livelihood purposes. The Chairman decided that the Government would arrange to display khasrawise detail of such areas in all the concerned villages and also upload the same on the website. The Committee recommended that the delisted areas may be handed over to the Revenue Department for further management. Mr. Ujagar Singh Badali, MLA pointed out that government should come out with a solution to address the problems of the people of Nayagaon NAC. After thorough discussion the committee decided to recommend that the Local Government Department should approach Hon’ble Supreme Court at the earliest, as decided in the meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Punjab. The committee resolved unanimously that the Government must undertake plantations in a big way in all the available forests and non forests areas in the State to increase green cover. Mr. P.Ram, IAS suggested that traditional fruit bearing species should be given priority in all plantations in the state. In response to the issue raised by Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi, MLA to allot forest land to the farmers who have been cultivating these lands, the chairman expressed that the matter does not fall in the jurisdiction of the state government. Certain other issues were raised by the members regarding functioning of forest department in respect of use of forest land for non forest purposes, encroachments and menace of Gujjar cattle in forests. The committee was unanimous in their recommendation that the damage to plantations in forest area can be minimized if the Guggars practice stall feeding of their cattle. Regarding other issues, the Chairman ordered a fact finding inquiry by Mr. Jitender Sharma, IFS, CCF (Hills) and submit report within a week.
With the concerted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Government of India (GoI) has decided to grant the status of "Freedom Fighters" under the Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 to the Heroes and Martyrs of Kama Gata Maru Movement. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Punjab Government said that a communiqué to this effect has been sent by the GoI to the Punjab Government in this connection. It is pertinent to say that the Punjab Chief Minister has written a D.O. Letter in July, 2009 to the GoI, Ministry of Home Affairs to grant of freedom fighters status to the Heroes and Martyrs of Kama Gata Maru Movement. In response of the D.O. of Chief Minister Punjab, the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI has informed to the Punjab Government that any participant of this movement, who satisfies the eligibility criteria and evidentiary requirements as prescribed under the Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, would be eligible for pension, the spokesman added. PUNJAB TO FLOAT RS. 700 CRORE LOAN Chandigarh, September 16, 2009 The Punjab Government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) today floated Rs. 700 crore (nominal) loan to finance part
of Capital Expenditure of Plan Schemes and other development schemes
under execution. The spokesman said that the government stock would be sold through RBI Mumbai by auction which would be conducted by it in its Mumbai office on September 22, 2009. The application form duly filled in with the bids should be submitted to the RBI, Mumbai on September 22, 2009 by 12.30 P.M. Result of auction would be displayed on September 23, 2009 and successful bidders would make payment on September 23, 2009. The spokesman added that this 10 year tenure loan would be repaid at par on September 23, 2019. He said that interest would be paid every half yearly on March 23 and September 23 and cut off yield determined at the auction would be the coupon rate percent per annum of the stock sold at the auction.
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